Dredging-machine



(No Model.) 3 sheets-asheet 1.

H; B. ANGELL.

DREDGING MACHINE.

No. 26:3;977. Patented Dec. 12, 1882.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

H B. ANGELL.

v I DRBDGING MACHINE. No. 268.977,. Patented Deoi'lZ, 1882,.

N. PETERS. Fhaio-Lilhognphor. Wnhlngturm D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE B. ANGELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS H. WVILLIAMS, OF OAKLAND, AND DAVID BIXLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DREDGlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,977, dated December 12, 1882.

Application filed June 19, 1882.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, HORACE B. ANGELL, of

the city and county of San Francisco,State of Oalit'ornia,have invented an Improved Dredging-Machine; and I herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to dredging-machines; and it consists incertain improvements which are based upon and especially applicable to an apparatus for which Letters Patent were issued to me August 30, 1881. These improvements, which are mainly details of construction, will be more fully explained by reference to, the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of part of the frame, the upper tumbler around which the chain and buckets pass, and the independent ladder attachmen't. tumbler, showingits construction--section and side view. Figs. 3 and 4 show the manner of holding and advancing the scow as the work progresses. Fig.5is a view showingthe means for clearing and discharging the buckets. Fig. 6 is a side view of the receiving-hopper.

A are the upright and B the transverse top timbers of the framewhich supportsthe upper end of the chain and buckets, the ladder, and the discharge hopper and pipe. Inmy former patent the upper end of the ladder-frame was journaled concentrically with the tumbler over which the chain passed. This necessitated much labor and time to disconnect and remove the different parts when either ladder or chain needed attention or repairs. In the present case I have shown the tumbler C, around which the chain D passes, journaled in boxes E upon the upper top timbers, B. Below these are other timbers, F, supporting boxes G, in which the trunnious of the upper section of the ladder H turn independently of the tumbler and its journals. These boxes are so placed with relation to the upper ones that the chain Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of" the (No model.)

which the machinery is carried, and swing it from side to side as the work progresses, posts or spuds are dropped down through openings, which are usually made at or near the rear end. In my device I employ a spud, K, which is put down in a central t'oreand-aft line of the scow, andbehind a central transverse line. Another spud, L, is placed at one sideof K at right angles from the central line, the two being separated such a distance that when the spud L is dropped and the scow swung to one side it will advance for a new cut. While a cut is being made the scow is caused to swing slowly from side to side of the proposed channel, thespud K being dropped, so that it forms the center about which the cut is made, and the spud L is raised. As the scow swings the buckets make the out, working down gradually until the bottom is reached when it is ready to be advanced for a new out. While the ladder is at the opposite side of the channel from the spud L and is being raised, ihisspud is dropped and the spud K withdrawn,at'ter which the scow is made to swing about the side spud, L, as a center until the spud Khas been advanced to its new position, when it is again dropped and the spud L withdrawn. The machine is thus held in position at all times by one spud and is prevented from being driven out of position by the Wind or tide, and the advance of the working-spud K is made in the central line of the channel to be out. When the spuds are fixed near the rear end and widely separated, the scow cannot be swung so as to allow the buckets to approach closely enough to the sideto cut the full width, and when it is'moved the radius of the curve is such that it swings farther forward than the buckets are able to cut at one movement.

' In order to move the scow easily about its center, I employ two anchors, M and N, upon the shore opposite the front of the ladder.

To still further assist in this action and reduce the strain, other lines or chains, R, pass around gipsies S and thence around pulleys at the rear of the scow, and from these to anchors T upon the bank, as shown. When one of the forward lines P is wound up, the lineR leading from the rear to the opposite bank is also wound up, so that both front and rear of the scow are moved, around the spud orfulcrum which is situated between them, and the power needed as well as the strain greatly lessened. The opposite lines P and R will of course be slacked otf at'the same time.

When the buckets are bringing up soft mud there is no difficultyin discharging it, but if it is hard clay or sand it will be apt to stick in the buckets so that they will carry some of it back upon their return. In order to prevent this, I fix anozzle, U, upon the side of the receiving-hopper opposite to the point where the buckets pass over the tumbler, and in such a position that it will discharge a stream of water directly into the top and back portion of the bucket as it comes up over the tumbler, and this loosens the material and moistens it so that it will drop out freely.

In my former patent the hopper was so made that the material from the buckets would fall a considerable distance vertically before striking the bottom, which was curved somewhat, so as to direct the mud into the discharge-pipe. The weight of mud dropping from the buckets was so great as to endanger the hopper by the blow, while if sticky or hard it would be apt to clog at the bottom. In my present device I make the side V of the hopper at a considerable incline, and the curve W, which joins this incline with the discharge-pipe, is more in the form of a parabolic curve, so that when the mud from the bucket falls upon the incline V it glides down and is directed by the curve \V into the discharge-pipe X, and the momentum thus gained is sufficient to prevent any clogging at the angle and to cause the mud to shoot out through the pipe with great velocity.

I prefer to place the pin 1 which supports the hopper and turns in a step, as described, in such position that the falling material will strike directly above it, so that it willreceive the force of the blow and thereby materially Patent, is-

flanges O, chambered to receive the ends of the I transverse bars, in combination with the removable angular bars I, cored lengthwise, and the rods J, passing through said bars and secured, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. In a dredging apparatus, the means for cleansing and assisting the discharge of the buckets, consisting of the nozzle U, fixed 0pposite to the point at which. the buckets discharge, so as to direct a stream ot'water into the top and back of the bucket as it begins to discharge. substantially as herein described.

3. In a dredging apparatus, the means for advancing the scow and apparatus and maintaininga straight line, consisting of the central post or spud, K, about which the scow swings in making a cut, the post L passing down at one side and at such a distance as to determine the amount of advance when the scow swings about it, and mechanism for swinging the scow on said posts, substantially as herein described. I

4. In a dredging-machine, and in combination with the scow or float having the central pivot post or spud, K, and the secondary or advancing post L, the blocks 0, fixed to the sides of the ladder and having the ropes or chains P passing through them to gipsies from the anchors M, and the ropes It, leading from other anchors, '1, through blocks at the opposite end of the scow, and to other operating gipsies or drn ms, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

HORACE B. ANGELL.

Witnesses:

lsRAEL W. KNOX, 0. F. MOULTHRUP. 

